"...Haa."
After seeing Ei embrace the Shogun, Ayaka silently let out a sigh of relief. But the moment she relaxed, pain surged through her entire body. After being beaten and electrocuted over and over, she felt like collapsing onto the ground and sleeping immediately.
But she still could not rest.
After all, she still had a fellow comrade in suffering.
She lifted her gaze toward the mermaid-like girl in the sky, who had already withdrawn all of her hydro element. The other girl met her eyes as well and instinctively drifted toward her.
However, her condition was no better than Ayaka's.
In fact, she was even worse off. Combined with the excessive elemental power she had just released, her consciousness suddenly sank midway.
And she fell straight from the sky.
"!"
Seeing this, Ayaka hurriedly used the last remnants of her strength. Her body transformed into crystalline ice as she rapidly drifted beneath the place where Kokomi was about to fall.
Reforming into human shape, she stretched out her arms to catch her.
Thump~
Fortunately, her timing was perfect.
Kokomi's delicate body landed directly into her arms in a princess carry.
Unfortunately, Ayaka herself barely had any strength left, especially in her legs. Even though Kokomi was light, the impact still caused her legs to give out completely as she collapsed onto the ground.
"Haa... are you all right, Miss Sangonomiya?"
Ayaka knowingly asked.
"Mm... I'm not... What about you?"
Kokomi weakly opened her eyes and instinctively leaned into Ayaka's embrace as she asked in a soft, clingy voice.
"Me too... My whole body hurts like hell. I feel like I'm about to die."
Ayaka smiled weakly and joked.
"Pfft~ Me too... It hurts so much. I think... I suffered internal injuries... My chest really hurts."
Kokomi also laughed weakly, joking together with her fellow victim.
"I can tell. You even coughed up blood."
Ayaka adjusted her posture slightly, pulling Kokomi closer into her arms. She raised a hand and gently wiped away the dried blood at the corner of Kokomi's lips with her fingertip.
She knew the girl in her arms had always been physically fragile. Seeing her injured this badly made even Ayaka's heart ache.
"After all... Shogun-sama... was too rough. I... really couldn't endure it... cough..."
Kokomi said helplessly, sounding utterly exhausted.
"Silly girl, that wasn't Shogun-sama. Shogun-sama would never do something like this to you."
Ayaka lightly pinched Kokomi's cheek and affectionately scolded her.
"Pfft... It's not like she only did it to me. Don't leave yourself out of it."
Kokomi smiled and gently pinched Ayaka's cheek in return.
"That's true..."
Ayaka agreed casually. Then, her gaze unintentionally drifted down toward Kokomi's white-stockinged feet, now completely missing their shoes.
"Pfft..."
She suddenly burst into laughter.
"Mm... W-What are you laughing at?"
Kokomi asked with slight dissatisfaction.
"Your shoes are gone too?"
Ayaka asked while smiling.
Indeed, Kokomi's white silk-covered feet now hung limply without the restraint of her sandals. The once pure white soles and toe areas of her stockings had been completely stained black by dirt and dust from the ground. Looking closely, there were even frayed threads from excessive friction.
It looked rather comical.
"...Too? Ah..."
Kokomi sharply caught the important word "too." She lowered her head and looked toward Ayaka's feet.
Just like her, Ayaka had also lost her shoes, leaving only her tabi socks touching the ground. The condition was even worse than Kokomi's. The fabric had turned scorched black in places and even carried a burnt smell.
"Why does it smell weird...?"
Kokomi asked in confusion.
"...Smell weird?"
Ayaka froze briefly before sniffing herself.
"It's coming from you... You smell terrible..."
Kokomi stared at her in surprise. Her eyes instantly filled with confusion as she lightly pushed her away a little.
"N-No, it's not like that... I got blasted by high-voltage electricity several times earlier. Even my clothes got scorched. Of course there's going to be a strange smell... Miss Sangonomiya, were you just thinking something rude?"
Ayaka's face immediately reddened. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she questioned the exhausted girl in her arms.
"I-I wasn't."
"Oh~? Then why did you push me just now?"
Ayaka teased.
"That was just... just an instinctive reaction."
Kokomi blushed and protested.
Still, Ayaka really did look miserable.
Just as she had said, not only were her tabi socks scorched, but even her clothes bore signs of burns. Parts of her skirt were even torn apart.
How tragic~!
If it had been Kokomi instead, she probably would have died already.
She could not help thinking that Miss Kamisato was frighteningly durable.
"By the way... why are we even talking about such indecent things right now?"
Ayaka suddenly came back to her senses and complained speechlessly.
"Pfft... Right... what are we even talking about?"
Kokomi also could not help laughing.
"Pfft... honestly~"
Ayaka laughed again. Then her eyes drifted toward the glowing dragon horns atop Kokomi's head, curiosity appearing between her brows.
What exactly was that?
"Are those horns? I always thought they were hair ornaments."
Ayaka asked in surprise.
"They are hair ornaments. It's not that complicated."
Kokomi corrected her.
Or rather, she was making excuses.
Her secret still could not be revealed yet. At the very least, she needed to wait for the proper time before telling Shogun-sama.
Although in truth, even she herself did not fully understand it.
"Mm... can you still walk?"
Ayaka did not continue pressing the matter. She could tell Kokomi did not wish to answer, so she simply changed the topic.
"I... probably can..."
"Let's go check on Shogun-sama's condition..."
Kokomi suggested.
"Mm... let's go see my Shogun-sama."
"Ours~"
Tap~
Ayaka immediately corrected her and even lightly knocked her on the head.
Then she directly carried Kokomi in her arms and slowly walked toward Ei's direction.
"Mmya... I was just joking."
Feeling the touch against her forehead, Kokomi smiled adorably.
She remained curled in the girl's embrace, quietly watching the purple-haired sleeping beauty held in Ei's arms draw closer and closer.
Gentle affection gradually surfaced within her eyes.
The corners of her lips slowly lifted, as though gazing upon her beloved.
Shogun-sama... we're here.
"Are you two all right? Were you badly injured?"
Hearing approaching footsteps, Ei subconsciously looked up.
She saw Ayaka carrying Kokomi while staggering toward her. Unable to help herself, she softly asked with concern.
"Mm... it's not really that serious. It just hurts a bit. We'll be fine, Lady Ei. We... cough... won't die that easily."
Ayaka smiled at her.
Then she slowly crouched down despite the pain and carefully knelt onto the ground, gently placing the princess-carried Kokomi onto the floor.
After being set down, Kokomi slowly crawled forward like a little kitten. She crawled all the way to the Shogun's side, instinctively taking the Shogun's hand into her own and lifting it carefully.
She closed her eyes and pressed her soft lips lightly against the tips of the Shogun's fingers in a gentle kiss. Then she clasped that hand against her chest, as though praying for something.
"..." ×2
Ei and Ayaka exchanged a glance at Kokomi's intimate actions. Then both of them revealed faint, gratified smiles.
"The Shogun will be fine... She is only sleeping for a short while. Waking up is only a matter of time."
Ei spoke gently to comfort the praying Kokomi.
"Mm... that's good. Then I—mm~! Cough! Cough!"
Halfway through her sentence, Kokomi suddenly felt an unbearable tickle in her throat. She quickly turned her head aside and covered her mouth, coughing muffledly.
"!" ×2
Both of them felt their hearts tighten.
Ei needed to keep the Shogun resting against her lap, so Ayaka immediately crawled to Kokomi's side and gently rubbed her back.
"Cough... cough... pfft..."
Kokomi coughed violently again, spitting another mouthful of blood into her palm. The coughing only grew worse.
"Miss Sangonomiya! Your condition is quite serious..."
Ayaka supported her body, speaking with worry.
"Cough... I... mm... I know..."
Kokomi finally eased slightly. She wiped the cold sweat from her forehead, her face pale as she spoke weakly.
"My... internal organs... are injured... Haa... haa..."
She pressed a hand to her chest and informed the two of them in a frail voice.
"..." ×2
Both Ei and Ayaka looked at her with deep concern. They both understood what such an injury implied.
"It's fine... I was never good at martial combat to begin with. It's understandable. Besides, I can heal myself... there's no need to worry about me, the two of you..."
Kokomi smiled faintly.
"Shall I use Musou Isshin to treat you?"
Ei asked.
"No, Lady Ei. Please keep that kindness for the Shogun. I can manage on my own."
After speaking, Kokomi straightened her body slightly and formed a series of hand seals with both hands.
Splash~
In the next second, her entire body radiated with azure light once more, casting a bluish glow over their faces.
"Oath of the Deep Sea..."
Even in her weakened state, her voice still carried the clarity of a flowing spring.
Splash~
As she lifted her hand, a soft, water-formed jellyfish materialized beside her. It was translucent and blue, floating gently in the air with a somewhat adorable appearance.
"..."
Kokomi opened her eyes, pressed her chest briefly to endure the lingering pain, then raised her hand toward the jellyfish.
"Come here..."
She called softly.
Splash~
The jellyfish obediently extended its soft tendrils and lightly brushed them against her forehead. Each time it pulsed, dense hydro elemental energy spread outward, enveloping her body. The energy gradually coated her wounds and even seeped into her body itself.
"Mm... mm~!"
Kokomi clenched her teeth and narrowed her eyes, enduring the pain of the healing process. Gradually, the pain began to lessen, and finally, it slowly faded.
"Haa..."
She finally let out a relieved breath and touched her chest.
Though her internal organs were still somewhat damaged, at least her life was no longer in danger. What remained was quiet recovery.
Perhaps there would be lingering aftereffects—but that did not matter.
She would never mention it in front of Shogun-sama.
If she did, the Shogun would blame herself.
"Feeling better?"
Ayaka asked with concern.
"Mm... it's fine now. Would the two of you like some treatment as well?"
Kokomi smiled gently.
"I'm fine. I have my own methods of healing."
Ei shook her head. Though a few of her ribs were fractured, it was not a major issue. She could treat herself later with Musou Isshin.
"Miss Sangonomiya, please heal me as well. Haa... I feel like I'm about to faint from the pain."
Ayaka said, cold sweat covering her face. It was obvious she had been thoroughly ravaged by the high-voltage lightning.
"Rest and recover."
Kokomi summoned another jellyfish to treat Ayaka.
"Haa... this feels so comfortable..."
Ayaka closed her eyes in relief.
She finally felt alive again...
Miss Sangonomiya's ability was simply too useful.
She almost felt moved to tears~!